A group of residents from Selsella in West Garo Hills on Thursday complained to Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi alleging that the mission coordinator of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) has forced them to purchase materials for construction of toilet from M/s Mahavir Trade Agency, a popular hardware store of Tura.

The complainants said that the hardware store was charging 40 percent higher rates and the inflated bills are adjusted under the supervision and direction mission coordinator SBM Selsella block.

“Last week, the coordinator of SBM under Selsella block called us to his office and gave us some blank cash memos and delivery challans of the hardware store and instructed us to submit blank copies with seal and signature. We refused to do so”, the complainants said in their letter to Bakshi.

The complainants also stated that of the total sanction of Rs. 12000 for the construction of toilet, only Rs. 3500 would be transferred to the account of Village Water and Sanitation Committee and the rest will be transferred to the hardware store for supply of construction materials.

The complainants said that the hardware store was charging very high and when compared with market near Selsella at New Bhaitbari, the difference of amount was about Rs. 3000.

“We can construct a better toilet, if we purchase material from other hardware store”, the complainants added. The complainants urged Bakshi to initiate a probe and allow them to purchase material from any other hardware store.